Perhaps the most popular is that which is attributed to Pope Gregory XIII. In France in 1582 he adopted the Gregorian calendar (named after him), in which he moved the beginning of the year from March (the end of March) to January 1.

People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the New Year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.

They were ridiculed, and seen as foolish – and hence we have April Fool’s Day.

This theory is disputed though, since it is known historically that the Julian Calendar, established in 46BC, made January the first month of the year. Countries began to switch calendars, and it all ended up being a mess by the 1500s. Some countries started the year on different days.

A different theory is that April Fools’ Day is left over from the idea of renewal festivals, which marked the end of winter and the start of spring.

One of the oldest versions of this occasion was the Roman pagan festival Hilaria. It was a festival held in honor of Cybele, the mother of the gods. All kinds of games and amusements were allowed on this day; masquerades were the most prominent among them, and everyone might, in his disguise, imitate whomsoever he liked, and even magistrates.

The festival coincided with the spring equinox, and those who took part in the festival would wear disguises, play tricks on people and generally wreak havoc.

Regardless of whichever theory is correct the day is one based in falsehood, lies and striking false fear into the hearts of people.

The Prophet – Sallallahu alaihi was Salam said:

“It is not permissible for the believer to frighten another believer” (Abu Daawood (5004))

He also said: “The sign of the hypocrite are three: if he speaks he lies, and if he is given a trust he breaks it, and if he makes a promise he breaks his promise” (Saheeh Bukhaari (33) and Saheeh Muslim (59) upon the authority of Abu Hurairah)

He also said: “Be truthful for indeed truthfulness, leads to righteousness, and indeed righteousness leads to Jannah. Indeed a man remains truthful and is diligent about being truthful until he is written with Allah as a truthful person” (Saheeh Bukhaari (5743) and Saheeh Muslim (2607) upon the authority of Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood)

Therefore there is no such thing as a ‘white lie’ in Islaam, all of it is black.

If this lying is combined with resemblance of the pagans with their festivities, then it becomes worse.

“..This affair, the affair of April fools day, which the question was posed concerning, is haraam from two angles;

Firstly because it is lies..

That which makes it worse is the fact that it has in it resemblance of the non-Muslims..if a Muslim lies and startles his brother Muslim, and causes him to be frightened, or intensely alarmed to the extent that he may even be afflicted with an illness (due to it). When it is said to him for example ‘such and such has passed away’ from those who are dear to him. Whether his father or brother or son or daughter, or that it is said to him ‘your house has been burgled’ or that ‘your house has been burnt down’ or the likes, from the great affairs that may (possibly) cause a person to enter a state of insanity or delirium, he may lose his mind or become ill. Who then would be responsible for this? It would fall upon this liar!”

From the issues related to fasting that arises often is a question connected to the affair of Al Wisaal (Continuous fasting). Wisaal is that a person continues to fast past maghrib. It may continue in some instances for two days and in some accounts from certain individuals from the salaf that they did so for three day continuously. The messenger – Sallallahu alaihi Was Salam prohibited the practice as occurs in the hadeeth of Abdullah Ibn Umar – Radhiyallahu ‘anhu who said that the prophet – Sallallahu alaihi Was Salam prohibited Al Wisaal so the companions said: “but you practice wisaal” So he said: “I am not like you, indeed I am fed by my lord and given drink, so carry out actions you are able to perform!” (Agree upon) Continue reading →

I was asked about this issue earlier today thus i share this benefit. Concerning this issue the scholars have a number of statements. Their statements revolve firstly around the fact that the Messenger Sallallahu alaihi was salam used to make Wudhu while in a state of Janaaba.

Upon the authority of Abu Salamah who said: “I asked Aaisha -Radhiyallahu anhaa Did the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi was Salam sleep while Junub? She said: “Yes! and he would make Wudhu”

(Collected by Bukhaari (282))

Upon the authority of Aaisha – Radhiyallahu anhaa “The Messenger of Allah – Sallallahu alaihi Was Salam when he was in a state of ritual impurity, and he intended to eat or sleep then he would make wudhu like his wudhu for salaah”

(Collected by Muslim (305))

As far as this wudhu is concerned, the scholars hold that it is done for the purpose of ‘Lightening’ the Janaaba (state of ritual impurity) of the person who is Junub

After mentioning some of the ahaadeeth that indicate the issue, Al Haafidh Ibn Rajab mentions in his ‘Fathul Baari’ (not that of Al Haafidh Ibn Hajr) (1/358):

“The ahaadeeth mentioned in the chapter, indicate that the wudhu of the person who is junub (in a state of ritual impurity) ‘lightens’ his state of janabah”

That is there is nothing that prevents him from being completely pure, except him making ghusl, and what is correct is that the woman is the same as the man in that regard.

With that being the case, the question that arises is, is the menstruating woman the same as the man or woman in a state of Janaabah?

What is correct is that she isn’t, due to the fact that she has a continual flow of blood that she would not become pure from even if she made ghusl.

Thus her having a ghusl would not put her in a state of tahaarah, while the man or woman in a state of janaabah IS purified with Ghusl and similarly, if they make wudhu their state is lightened.

With the exception of one woman, and that is the woman whos’ menses has ended but she has not yet made ghusl to purify herself, this woman is benefitted by wudhu if she intends to sleep in that state.

“Ash Shaafi’ee has stated that this is not for the menstruating woman (i.e. to make wudhu before sleep), because if she were to make ghusl it would not remove her state of impurity, while that is not the case with one who is junub, but if her flow of blood ceases, then that is permissable for her”

(Fathul Baari 1/395)

Imaamun Nawwawi has a similar statement in his explanation of Muslim he states (3/218):

“Our companions (i.e. the scholars of the Shaafi’ee madhab) are united upon the fact that it is not desirable for the woman in a state of menses or post-natal bleeding to make wudhu (i.e. before sleep) because wudhu will have no effect upon her state of impurity, but if her menses ends then she becomes like the one who is Junub.

Question (From Palestine) : What is the ruling concerning a woman marrying a man who is hizbi and affiliates himself with one of the present day groups?

Answer:

“I Say to you oh my Child from Palestine the one that you have described is an innovator and misguided, one who does not possess pleasing practice of the religion.

The Prophet – Sallallahu alaihi was Salam said “If there comes to you one whom you are pleased with his religion and his character then marry him, if you do not do so, there will be fitna in the earth and widespread corruption”

This hadeeth is graded no less than hasan with its gathered chains of narration and the intent is that it is sound to be used as evidence. Thus do not marry your daughters to these people of hizbiyah who are misguided and innovators for indeed they will be a trial and a test for them that will take them away from the sunnah.

As for if a woman was previously married to this man and didnt know or she was compelled by her family to marry him for some reason (perhaps) financial or personal, then let her be patient and seek her reward from Allah and let her concern herself with the affair of her children, and she should interact with him with hikma and refrain from that which he attempts to enforce upon her (ie related to his hizbiyah)..”

Is it from the manhaj of the salaf to gather the mistakes of an individual and then make them apparent in an authorship for people to read?

Answer:

“Subhaanallah! This is a statement made by the people of innovation for the purpose of protecting their bid’ah, protecting their books, protecting their methodology and protecting the people they venerate.

Yes! Allah and his messenger have mentioned much of their (affairs) of misguidance, and have gathered the statements of the Jews and the Christians and have critisised them in many Qur’anic verses.

Similarly Ahlus Sunnah, from the dawn of their history to this day have spoken about Jahm ibn Safwaan and Bishr Al Mirreesi and have enumerated their innovations and misguidance. They have (likewise) gathered the statements of the people of the (deviant) sects and have critisised them, so who has made this haram?

This is from the compulsory affairs if the people may be misguided by his many innovations and you were to gather them in one place and warned against them and named him, then may Allah reward you with good!

You, in doing so, would have carried out a great good for Islaam and the Muslims”